Nachiketa, Gilgamesh, and transcendence

Myths from different civilisations often echo universal themes, weaving together humanity’s deepest fears and aspirations. The journey to the netherworld – a quest for knowledge, immortality, or transcendence – is a shared motif across cultures. The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh and the Indian Katha Upanishad present striking parallels in their explorations of death, mortality, and the nature of the soul. Gilgamesh, the mighty king of Uruk, and Nachiketa, the inquisitive seeker, confront the ultimate mystery: What lies beyond death?

Epic of Gilgamesh, considered the world’s oldest literary work, and the Katha Upanishad, one of India’s profound spiritual texts, both narrate the journey of a hero venturing into the realm of the dead. While Gilgamesh embarks on his perilous voyage seeking immortality after the death of his dear friend Enkidu, Nachiketa ventures into the abode of Yama, the god of death, to uncover the secret of existence.

In both myths: The hero seeks wisdom from an otherworldly being – Utnapishtim in the Sumerian legend and Yama in Hindu thought. Their trials and tribulations reveal profound truths about life, death, and eternity. Both emphasise that true immortality does not come from defying death but from understanding the nature of the soul.

Gilgamesh’s journey begins after he experiences personal loss, much like many humans driven towards existential contemplation following tragedy. His quest to overcome mortality leads him across perilous waters to meet Utnapishtim, the lone human granted eternal life by the gods. Yet, after all his trials, Gilgamesh learns that Utnapishtim’s immortality was a one-time exemption provided by the gods to prevent the human species from being wiped out. Gilgamesh returns to Uruk with nothing but wisdom. However, Gilgamesh leaves us an immortal legacy of the cities he built and a story of failure and success that is immortalised as an epic.

In contrast, Nachiketa, a young seeker, willingly embraces death in pursuit of knowledge. Nachiketa’s father, angered by Nachiketa’s persistent questioning during a ceremony, offers him to Yama, the god of death, for answers! Yama initially refuses to answer Nachiketa’s questions on life and death. However, Nachiketa’s persistence eventually wins over Yama who explains in detail, and through analogies, that the body is transient, but the self is eternal. Unlike Gilgamesh, Nachiketa returns not with despair but with enlightenment.

Both texts converge on one philosophical truth: death is an illusion when viewed through spiritual wisdom. The body is meant to perish like a vessel, but the soul is unchanging and indestructible. The Katha Upanishad eloquently states: “The wise, who perceive the Atman as eternal amidst the transient, attain true freedom.” Similarly, Utnapishtim’s wisdom to Gilgamesh is a lesson in accepting the fleeting nature of life and embracing one’s mortal fate. These stories remind us that physical immortality is a quest of vanity.

The ephemerality of the human body aligns with nature’s cycles. In Hindu thought, creation and destruction are part of cosmic balance – life’s essence continues in new forms, even as individual existences fade. This perspective is particularly relevant today when sustainability and ecological balance are urgent concerns. The modern obsession with longevity and artificial prolongation of youth contradicts the more profound wisdom in these ancient texts. A planet overburdened by endless consumption and human expansion can learn from these myths – impermanence is natural and necessary for renewal.

What can we learn from these myths in an age of Artificial Intelligence, biotechnology, and space exploration?

Accepting mortality: In a world obsessed with life-extension technologies, pursuing immortality remains an illusion. Nachiketa and Gilgamesh teach us that it is not about how long one lives but how well one understands the nature of existence.

Knowledge as the purpose: Fear of death leads to futile technological, wealth, or power pursuits. Instead, wisdom lies in seeking knowledge, as Nachiketa did.

The cycle of life: The planet thrives on natural cycles. Just as the human body must perish, societies and civilisations must recognise that growth without renewal leads to collapse. Ecological sustainability requires embracing transience rather than resisting it.

The power of knowledge: Gilgamesh returned to his city wiser, realising that the accurate measure of life is not eternity but the legacy one leaves behind. Nachiketa’s realisation went further – he understood that even legacy is transient; hence, transcendence comes from accepting transience. Here is to ‘Transience’!

(Gopichand Katragadda, the former CTO of Tata Group and founder of AI company Myelin Foundry, is driven to peel off known facts to discover unknown layers. X: @Gkatragadda)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.